Hodder & Stoughton 2019. ISBN: 9781510202122.
(Age: Young Adult) Highly recommended. Actor and musician Chris
Colfer continues his second career as a bestselling children's
author with A Tale of Magic. This is Colfer's first offering
outside of his immensely popular Land of Stories series.
While set in the same universe and acting as a quasi-prequel,
readers do not need to be familiar with the Land of Stories
series to enjoy A Tale of Magic.
The narrative centres on Brystal Evergreen, a bookish and
intelligent teenager living in a patriarchal and oppressive society.
In the Southern Kingdom, ruled over by King Champion XIII and a
cadre of crotchety and sexist High Justices, Brystal's life is a
never-ending cycle of domestic duties and preparation for her future
role as wife and mother.
Until one day Brystal, who loves to read but is forbidden from doing
so due to draconian laws outlawing female literacy, applies for a
cleaning job at a library. So begins an adventure involving secrets,
magic, trials and servitude, culminating in Brystal's enrolment at
the newly opened Madame Weatherberry's Academy of Magic. For the
first time in her life Brystal begins to form friendships and become
comfortable is expressing who she is. However, when Madame
Weatherberry disappears, Brystal and her magical classmates must
find a way to save their teacher and, while they're at it, the rest
of the world. A Tale of Magic is a vivid, fun and exceedingly enjoyable
novel. Colfer excels at world-building and readers will be enchanted
by the colourful characters and scenes he brings to life. This book
is highly recommended, particularly for fans of magical school
narratives, such as Harry Potter and Nevermore.
Themes: Magic, Magical Creatures, Witches, Family, Friendship,
Adventure.
Rose Tabeni
Bad Mermaids: Meet the Sushi Sisters by Sibeal Pounder
Illus. by Jason Cockcroft. Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2020. ISBN:
9781526616883.
(Age: 7-9) Recommended. The fourth book in this amusing series
introduces Meri Pebble (the best spy mermaid in the Fortress Bay spy
school, according to Meri anyway!). Meri pesters her supervisor into
giving her a new mission and she is tasked with uncovering what is
behind a crabogram that says the Famous Sushi Sisters are going to
destroy all the humans. She and her friends - Beattie, Mimi and
Zelda, (aka the Bad Mermaids) go undercover as a personal assistant
and the GLAM squad to show that there is no truth to the idea that
the Sushi sisters would even consider harming any humans. Meri is
sure she can prove them to be the famous and seriously spoiled
mermaids who just do pranks for their TV show and nothing more. But
the mermaids soon realise the Sushi sisters are up to something and
wonder how the sisters got their hands on some very strange pets
like their mercats (half mermaid half cat) and hamstars (half
seastars half hamsters).
Meanwhile their human friend Paris is moving from California to a
castle in Scotland which boasts a loch haunted by a mermaid. Paris'
mother has given up making socks and taken up selling mermaid
make-up to humans under the brand name Flubiere. She has even
brought a tankful of Puffer fish to promote her brand to the
fish-loving people of Scotland. Paris befriends the mysterious
mermaid in the loch and helps her Bad mermaid friends in the
process.
The books all have delightful references to all things fishy that
young readers will enjoy. The lessons about being a good friend and
not getting taken in by the glamour and glitz of famous people are
carefully woven into the story as Beattie learns the hard way that
being the cool girl with the Sushi sisters is not all it promised.
Themes: Espionage, mermaids, seahorses, magic, friendship.
Gabrielle Anderson
The Night Whistler by Greg Woodland
Text Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 9781922330093.
(Age: Senior secondary/adult) Highly recommended. Mick Goodenough
has been sent to the country town of Moorabool quite a come down
from his former role as a detective in the city. Probationary
Constable Goodenough is now the lowest on the pecking order, but it
takes him no time to notice the station is badly run.
One of his dogs, a German Shepherd is found dead. A boy Hal, new to
the town, finds the body which has been tortured and its throat cut.
Hal later discovers the site has an unpleasant history. It was the
scene of a terrible family murder/suicide with only one surviver.
Mick Goodenough would like some investigation into the killing of
his dog but his sergeant shows no desire to waste police resources
on the animal. But with some digging Mick finds there is quite a
history of missing pets turning up maimed and killed, but no record
of any investigation.
Hal's father, John Humphries is newly employed by a local food
processing company and with his mother and younger brother have just
settled into life in a country town. A life Hal's mother is none too
keen on. After the company family Christmas party the nuisance phone
calls begin. They always begin with whistling and become more
personal toward Corrie Humphries.
Mick has become worried. The pet mutilations and now the phone calls
indicate an escalation by the perpetrator. He fears the next victim
may well be human.
Greg Woodland's murder mystery is set during the mid 1960s, when the
pace of life is slower and the New South Wales police is well known
for corruption. The atmosphere is very Australian: country town,
summer, racial tension and a belief by white locals that there was
no safer place to live.
The story is told by Hal and Mick Goodenough, both adding
their unique perspectives as new comers to a situation that becomes
increasingly desperate. Woodland's first novel is one which hooks
the reader because of a chemistry by which he has the reader
sympathising with the two main characters.
Themes: Crime, Corruption, NSW, Police, Pets, Stalking.
Mark Knight
The human body survival guide (Your body is really gross - but also pretty awesome!) by George Ivanoff
Penguin Random House Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9781760896744.
(Ages: 8-Adult) Highly recommended. Everything you always wanted to
know about bodily functions, in excruciating detail, can be found in
this entertaining book by George Ivanoff. It follows on from the
first book in this nonfiction series called The
Australia survival guide: Australia is trying to kill you,
this book will save your life! published in 2019.
George is onto a winner here with all the facts about the most
mundane of human anatomy presented in a highly amusing way. He
introduces the "Gross-o-meter" which is a scale included on each
page to rate how gross the particular section is according to the
author; it rates from Un-gross through a 5-step scale to
Ultra-gross. The book is divided into four sections : On the
outside: about skin, wrinkles, cuts, nails, sweat and body image; On
the inside: cardiovascular system, digestive systems, muscles and
the brain; Better out than in: about body secretions and excretions
(something kids all find riveting) and Everything else: a mix of
facts about parasites, the body being an ecosystem, bionic body
parts and much more. There is nothing about the Reproductive system.
These short chapters have some very funny titles e.g. The wrapping,
Food churning grossness, Red Spurty stuff, Pooping it out, Special
invited guests, etc. which will definitely attract all children to
this book. It also includes a Glossary and Further reading section
at the end but no Index. It is very informative and includes case
notes for real life examples of some things and little orange
post-it notes to point out extra interesting things.
The book has the look of an old handbook as the illustrations inside
are monochrome with large splashes of orange/red being the only
bright colour. The photographs used are also black and white and
this makes it very approachable for everyone who finds full colour
pictures of body parts and insides confronting. There are some promotional
videos by the author which libraries may find useful to
introduce these books to their clients. Themes: Human anatomy,
Physiology.
Gabrielle Anderson
Kensy and Max : Full speed by Jacqueline Harvey
Penguin Random House Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9781760890025.
(Ages 8-10). Recommended. Kensy and Max, the super child spies, are
back in the sixth book in this very popular series. In this
new book the twins find themselves on a mission to Zermatt in
Switzerland after there is a strange gas leak in the Houses of
Parliament during their school excursion.
When they arrive in Zermatt Kensy and Max are tasked with
befriending Soren, the child of a very suspicious couple who are
suspected of being involved in an arms smuggling ring. But the
mystery deepens for them when a secretive figure that was spotted in
London turns up in Zermatt and seems to want to kill Max.
There is also the mystery of who is behind the hacks that are
plaguing many large corporations around the world. Along with
the exciting, page-turning action in this book there is also a
softer side which explores family relationships through the story
behind Soren and his relationship with both his very self-absorbed
parents and their kind housekeeper Sylvie. Readers will enjoy
the spy tools and special gadgets used by the twins and their family
to give them the upper hand and solve the case.
These books can be read as a stand-alone book but some understanding
of the characters that pop up is enhanced if they are read in
order. As with previous books the chapter titles are written
in a special code, different in each book. This book uses the
Qwerty Code where the alphabet corresponds with the QWERTY keyboard
and is explained in the back of the book. Themes: Spies, Twins,
Siblings, Snow skiing, Mysteries.
Gabrielle Anderson
The biscuit maker by Sue Lawson
Illus. by Liz Anelli. Walker Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781760650438.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. A wonderful sense of place is aroused
with the biscuit maker and appreciative audience settled firmly on
the front cover against a street of houses. The houses are repeated
on the endpapers, several streets worth, with the houses drawn as
children might draw them, without perspective. A lovely touch, I
thought, and loving maps as I do, evoked an immediate response to
the setting.
Eventually opening the book, after my mind trawled through the
discussions I would have with the children listening to the story, I
was intrigued with the direction the story took. Not just a story
about grandmas and children baking, but a beautiful tale of coming
together, of neighbours, neighbourhood and friendship. Benedict
Stanley and his cat, Audrey Mae, say good morning and hello to the
passers-by each day but they are too busy to notice and hurry past,
jogging or going to work or reading a paper. So Benedict and his cat
tend their garden until their legs weary and they must rest. A boy
walks past telling them that the tooth fairy will visit him
overnight. Benedict goes inside and cooks him some celebratory
biscuits, leaving them on his doorstep. After this he cooks biscuits
for many of the people in his street, and people begin to wonder who
the biscuit maker is. One day, Benedict takes to his bed and the
biscuits stop coming. People are concerned about what has happened
to the biscuit maker, and why the biscuits have stopped. When Audrey
Mae yowls outside Rory's house he realises something is wrong. He
and other neighbours knock at Benedict's door, bringing food to him.
As Benedict and Rory share a cake or two, the neighbours tuck into
the garden, doing the sorts of things Benedict would have done if he
were feeling better. The neighbourhood bustles with friendship and
helping each other as they ready themselves for a New Year's Eve
street party.
This wonderful story of finding friends, of communicating with your
neighbours, of community, of watching out for the elderly, will warm
the hearts of the readers, especially apt after the year we have had
with its emphasis on helping those living nearby.
Each page shows a different facet of life in the street: kids
getting ready for the grand final, a kitten falling from a rooftop,
one family having triplets, a child who has lost a tooth. All happen
within the neighbourhood but it is only Benedict who is aware of the
range of incidents and acts upon them. Anelli offers us a crowded
street scene, full of life and events, fascinating and detailed, a
range of ages and backgrounds, of families and house styles, all
prompting the reader to look at their own neighbourhood with renewed
eyes.
Anelli's mixed media illustrations sing with friendship and
cooperation, showing a disinterested neighbourhood coming to life
when one person makes an effort. Benedict shows what can be done
with the smallest of gestures, eliciting a response from those
living next door, reviving the old community spirit that has lapsed.
The book exhorts us to reignite the spirit of cooperation between
neighbours. Children will love seeing the different aspects of
street life, and single out the range of biscuits made by Benedict,
turning to the back of the book for the recipe to try out for
themselves. Teacher's
notes are available.
Theme: Friendship, Neighbours, Cooperation, Community, Biscuits.
Fran Knight
Across the risen sea by Bren MacDibble
Allen & Unwin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760526054.
(Age: 11+) Highly recommended. Marta, Neoma and Jag are going to the
sunken city to scavenge what they can from the tall buildings, now
mostly underwater. Curious and ferociously independent, Neoma takes
the stairs, excited by the writing on one of the floors she comes
across. She has heard of such places where people sit at tables and
others cook and serve them food, but now, it means there may be
salvageable cans, enough to sustain them over the long hot summer.
A stunning dystopian story, Neoma and her mother are part of a small
community on an island, one of many formed after the seas rise.
Strangers from another settlement, called the Valley of the Sun by
the islanders, came one day and cut down some trees, erecting a
pole with a flashing light on top and guys to hold it fast.
Neoma, ever curious, digs one of the boxes at the base of one of the
ties and is badly burnt.
Coming back from their scavenging, they come across the interloper's
boat, now derelict, and tow it back to their island. One girl is
still alive and they nurse her back to health, with only Marta able
to understand her language. But the islanders are concerned lest the
others think they killed her companion and consequently Jag is
kidnapped by people from the Valley of the Sun as retribution. Neoma
follows in the catamaran but is soon taken over by a pirate. She
steals back her boat, but the girl from the pirate's boat comes
aboard, now less one finger, and they sail on to rescue Jag with a
crocodile and shark in tow.
A dystopian mystery by the author of award winning The
dog runner (2018) and How
to bee (2017), this tale is suffused with future
warnings, Neoma's island rejecting the trappings of modern life, but
equally needing some vestiges of it to survive. The ominous green
clouds, the disease which befell the nations, the rising seas, a
society fragmented into small islands of survivors, all suspicious
of each other, point to a world gone awry, and a future which seems
all too imminent for thoughtful readers. Teacher's
notes are available from the publisher's website.
Themes; Global warming, Climate change, Dystopian novel.
Fran Knight
Funny Kid: Belly flop by Matt Stanton
HarperCollins, 2020. ISBN: 9780733340604.
(Age: 7+) Recommended. This is the latest novel in the Funny Kid
series by author-illustrator Matt Stanton. Max is the funny kid in
his class, always looking for a laugh.
This book starts with a week to go until the annual school swimming
carnival. Max does not want to swim in the carnival and decides to
take action. As the carnival date draws nearer all that Max thought
he knew is turned upside down - is he really on the same side as an
11-year-old female super-villain? Why is he avoiding his faithful
sidekick, Hugo? Whoever thought craft glue was a good idea? And who
IS the bad twin?
For most of the story, Max, although funny, is a reckless boy full of
his own importance and wishes and without much thought for anyone
else. He behaves badly towards his best friend, shows no respect for
authority figures such as his teacher and swimming instructor, and
encourages and celebrates poor choices by his classmates.
It is only towards the end that Max realises the value of true
friendship and displays some empathy, understanding and regret
regarding how the adults and kids around him have been affected
during the week. He takes steps to put things right but there's
still some surprises in store.
Students who have enjoy the WeirDo books or who have read
others in this series will enjoy this new offering. The black and
white line illustrations don't just add to the story, they are an
integral part of the story and are very engaging.
This book contains an author bio as well as a sneak peek at his new
graphic novel series The Odds.
Themes: Swimming, Friends, Adventure, Humour.
Kylie Grant
Blood and honey by Shelby Mahurin
Serpent and dove series, book 2. Harper Teen 2020, ISBN:
9780063041172
(Age: 15+) As the sequel to Serpent and dove (Blood and
honey is the second in the series), this review may contain
spoilers for the first book for those who have not read it. A
descriptive and action packed fantasy, Blood and honey picks
up right after the cliff-hanger end of Serpent and dove,
with Lou, Reid and their companions on the run and in hiding. With
Lou's coven in pursuit of Lou, the church in pursuit of all of them
and the kingdom not having a place for them, their little band of
fugitives are in constant danger. With the threat of Morgane hanging
over them, the group seek allies in unlikely places - with their
enemies. Fearing this won't be enough to protect the ones she loves,
Lou turns to a darker side of her magic that may cost more than it's
worth.
Having enjoyed the first book of this series, I found the second
book just as compelling with relatable characters, interesting plot
development and well paced, detailed writing. There is also romance,
both hot and heavy and unrequited. Having been introduced to Lou,
Reid, Ansel and Coco in book 1, readers learn more about them while
their relationships develop. While Lou struggles to keep a grip on
herself, Reid struggles to accept himself. This well written novel
will appeal to many readers. It would suit fans of Sarah J. Maas' Court
of thorns and roses series.
Themes: Magic, Good and evil, Fantasy, Self-perception,
Forgiveness.
Mel Phillips
Of boys and boats by Ian Trevaskis
Ford St Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 9781925804515.
(Age: 12-14) Highly recommended. The Olympic Games in Melbourne in
1956 form the backdrop for this extraordinary story about a group
of friends. Jack (who suffers from asthma) and Percy (whose legs
have been affected by polio) have always been friends. They welcome
Heinrich (the new kid from Germany) and Anna (who is also an
immigrant from Italy) into their little group when they decide to
run a pretend Olympic torch around their neighbourhood.
Unfortunately, the local bully Bruiser loves nothing more than to
spoil all their fun. It seems to Jack that Bruiser and his mates
Ferret and Stinky McGee have been lurking in the shadows terrorizing
them for Jack's whole life and he laments that he hasn't yet had the
courage stand up to them.
The little gang become a great group of friends and when they
discover an unfinished boat in a shed behind Mad Mick's house, they
make plans to try to finish it so that Percy can experience sailing.
Jack meets Mad Mick when Jack's dog Skip is hurt by a car. So, Jack
works up the courage to ask Mick if the group can finish the boat
and Mick agrees if, in exchange, Jack reads to Mick each day. All is
going well, with Heinrich's knowledge of boats and the groups
commitment to working on the boat each day, until Bruiser and his
gang steal the boat plans and a special photo album that belongs to
Mick. Will they ever finish the boat now and sail her on the bay the
way Mick did so many years before with his precious love Edith?
A fast-paced dramatic story with touches of humour that explores
several relationships; between Jack and Mick, who talks to the ghost
of his brother lost in the war, the connection Jack has with his
parents, especially his dad who is in hospital with tuberculosis and
was an alcoholic. The way that Jack and his buddies finally defeat
Bruiser and his gang is priceless and proves the strength of
friendship will always prevail. Teacher's
notes are available for this book on the Ford Street
Publishing website. Themes: Friendships, Bullying, Olympic Games,
Boats, World War One, Immigration.
Gabrielle Anderson
The great realisation by Tomos Roberts
Illus. by Nomoco. Harper Collins Australia, 2020. ISBN:
9781460759806.
(Ages: 7+) Recommended. First performed in response to the Covid-19
pandemic, this poem has been viewed over 60 million times and
translated into over 20 languages. The young author, UK spoken-word
poet freelance filmmaker Tomos Roberts, struggled financially when
the pandemic hit and set himself a challenge to find a hopeful
message within the hardship and isolation faced by many. He
describes the book as 'a bedtime story for a time of change' and a
'reminder that we need not aim for a return just to normal when
there is a tangible prospect of progress and the potential for so
much more'. Nomoco's vibrant watercolour illustrations are minimal
but poignant, adding to the wonderfully serene, yet hopeful nature
of the poem itself.
The story starts with two children asking for a bedtime story: 'Tell
me the one about the virus again, then I'll go to bed'. The story
the children are asking for begins before the pandemic and tells
what the world was like before: big companies, instant gratification
of material needs, busy people without time to talk to each other,
isolation and environmental destruction. It tells of how while
everyone was busy hiding from the virus, wonderful things started to
happen: we started to talk more, rush around less and enjoy simple
activities and the environment started to breathe again. Then it
talks of what we hope will happen: 'we all preferred the world we
found, to the one we'd left behind'.
This is a beautifully optimistic book that wants to separate history
into pre-covid and post-covid, with the hope that the two eras will
look drastically different. While it remains to be seen if this will
come to fruition, it's a realisation worth sharing with people of
all ages. A
teacher's guide is available. Themes: Modern life, Hope, 2020
Covid-19 pandemic, Poetry.
Nicole Nelson
Old man Emu by John Williamson
Illus. by Simon McLean. Penguin Random House Australia, 2020. ISBN:
9781760898793.
(Ages: 3-7) This picture book adaptation celebrates 50 years since
the release of iconic Aussie singer-songwriter John Williamson's hit
song Old Man Emu. After recently publishing book versions of
Christmas
in Australia and My
Dad Snores this new release of one of his most enduring
songs (and the one that kickstarted his career) comes as no
surprise. The crazy lyrics are perfectly paired with wacky
illustrations by Simon McLean that will have little ones giggling
the whole way through. For those unfamiliar with the song, it tells
the tale of what an emu can and can't do and compares its abilities
to other Australian birds and animals (he's got a beak and feathers
and things, but the poor old fella ain't got no wings'). While he
may not be able to fly what he can do is 'run the pants off a
kangaroo'.
There is beautiful rhythm within the rhyming lyrics and lots of
repetition, perfect for getting kids to join in, especially with the
'oom ba da little da da da'. As well as obvious uses around music
and singing the book could also be used to start a conversation
about Australian animals and their individual abilities and
characteristics ('you can't loop the loop like a cockatoo', 'duck
can swim, but he can't sing') and applying this to our own
individual human abilities.
This is a joyful and fun way to introduce kids to songwriting and
rhythm and will be a particular favourite for children who have
already been introduced to the song by their parents or teachers.
Adult fans will appreciate the subtle nods to Williamson himself
(the emu is clearly modelled on his image and there are some
references to Quambatook where he grew up). Themes: Poetry/song,
Australian animals, Abilities.
Nicole Nelson
Meet Dooley on the farm by Sally Odgers and Christina Booth
Aussie Kids. Penguin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760893682.
(Age: Beginning independent readers) Recommended. Meet Dooley on
the farm is one of 8 books in the new series Aussie Kids
published by Penguin Random House. This wonderful series has been
very well thought out with each book a story about a child from a
diverse background, from each of the Australian states and
territories. Each book also showcases a special event or day or a
unique place where they live.
These books are written for young readers aged 5-8, who are newly
confident. The text is of a good size, there is ample space between
lines and the 2 colour illustrations assist the reader to make sense
of the story.
In this particular book, by Sally Odgers and Christina Booth (both
Tasmanians too!), the main character Dooley is showing his farm to
his city living cousin Sienna. He shows her the country life, and
they experience lots of 'pongs' including farm and wild animals, hay
and the pond loving family dog. The main event is when they attempt
to sleep in the barn and are consistently woken up by a large number
of animal friends.
I think this book really hits the brief of being for beginning
independent readers. The words used are fairly easy to decipher when
needed and the content is relevant. I think that children will both
enjoy reading about something within their state, but also maybe
somewhere they have previously been or would like to go. This adds
that element of connection which is important for many readers. A
really great start to the series, I look forward to finding the rest
and adding them to our library.
Lauren Fountain
Troubled blood by Robert Galbraith
Cormoran Strike, book 5. Little Brown, 2020. ISBN:
9780751579949. 944 pp.
(Age: Adult - Senior secondary) Highly recommended. Although a massive 944 pages, fans
of the series will be rivetted by the complex plotting and
relationships in Galbraith's latest offering. Strike and Robin are
back again, this time investigating a cold case involving a young
doctor, Margot Bamborough, who mysteriously disappeared forty years
earlier. Strike had been approached by her daughter to see if he
could find the truth about her and give her some solace. As Strike
and Robin start investigating, they discover that there had been a
serial killer on the loose nearby, and the detective in charge of
the case had been convinced that he was the killer. However, he had
become increasingly obsessed with tarot cards which he was using to
solve the case and eventually was forced to leave it. Strike and
Robin must delve through copious strange notes, interview any
surviving witnesses all the while researching the many cases their
agency was actively pursuing. Not to mention Strike having to cope
with the fact that his aunt, who had brought him up, has cancer,
while Robin is struggling with a difficult divorce.
There are many plot threads to follow in Troubled blood, and
the author keeps the reader puzzling not only over what happened to
Margot Bamborough, but also what happened to other young women that
the serial killer was supposed to kill. Even the other cases the
agency is investigating are interesting and contain more puzzles for
the reader to try and solve. And readers who have been following the
growing rapport between Robin and Strike will enjoy the way
Galbraith has given an in-depth understanding of how their
backgrounds and past relationships have affected their emotional
growth.
Fans of the Cormoran Strike series will not want to miss
this one, and lovers of the mystery genre will appreciate the
intricate plotting and may, like me, be surprised by the final
denouements.
Pat Pledger
Peppa loves the Great Barrier Reef by Peppa Pig
Penguin, 2020. ISBN: 9780241457542. Peppa loves the Great Barrier Reef is a story based on the
popular children's TV show Peppa Pig, and seems to be part
of a new range of Peppa Pig books aimed at Australian fans.
In this title, Peppa and her family visit their friend Kylie
Kangaroo (who has been on other episodes) and spend time with her at
her mother's work in a submarine on the Great Barrier Reef. The Pig
family are amazed at how beautiful the coral is on the reef and make
links to the fish tank at Kylie Kangaroo's house. They love the
different sea life and rainbow coral, all that is missing is a chest
full of treasure . . . or is it?
I think that this book missed a really good opportunity to talk a
bit more about the Great Barrier Reef and how to protect it. All
they said was not to take anything away, and then a treasure chest
full of gold coins is discovered and taken away . . . Young readers
would most likely not understand that a treasure chest and coral are
different things (living and not) and may be confused by this part
of the story.
Overall, the general storyline is okay and fits in very well with
the other Peppa Pig books I have read before. The
illustrations are bright and colourful and represent all the
characters that fans of this show will recognise. The addition of
the textural sparkles/glitter on the cover is also nice and helps
the book stand out, which will inevitably draw in young fans of the
show and possibly even those that have not seen it yet.
Lauren Fountain
